UnderDog

From Addiction to Sobriety, Bruce W. Brackett Journey of Finding Freedom and Purpose and Rising Above Ruin

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Episode notes

Bruce W. Brackett's journey reflects resilience amidst suffocating challenges, from struggles as a gay youth in conservative Montana to battling addiction and homelessness. Through raw honesty, his narrative highlights the importance of recovery and growth in dark moments. His return to past turmoil as a celebrated author and advocate illustrates full-circle moments, inspiring listeners to find hope and thrive even in despair.


Bruce W. Brackett, author, speaker, and mental health advocate, shares his journey of overcoming addiction and trauma in "How to Breathe While Suffocating". Growing up in Montana, he found refuge in theater amid bullying. Battling addiction, he stresses positivity and support in recovery. Bruce's memoir explores his struggles as a sex worker and homeless runaway, highlighting the transformative power of recovery. He credits his success to support and sets boundaries for helping loved ones in crisis. Bruce's story exemplifies resilience and personal growth, offering hope to others. The book is available for purchase, and Bruce's tour provides opportunities for connection and sharing. Through his journey, he inspires readers to embrace their worth and pursue positive change.


 Key Takeaways:


  • Pursuing sobriety: recognizing one's own agency in the process of recovery and making the conscious choice to pursue sobriety. Despite facing numerous relapses, Bruce persevered in seeking help through outpatient rehab, therapy, and 12-step meetings.
  • Seeking/providing support and acceptance: accepting that recovery is a journey filled with ups and downs. He also provides insights into supporting loved ones struggling with addiction, highlighting the need to set boundaries and prioritize self-care.
  • Using HALT: serves as a crucial tool in Bruce's addiction recovery, prompting him to regularly assess his basic needs, such as hunger, anger, loneliness, and fatigue, to uphold emotional well-being and sobriety.
  • Relapse is often part of the recovery process, and people should not feel ashamed if they struggle - it's about continuing to try and get help.
  • Reframing one's mindset from limitations to empowering choices, like from "I can't" to "I'm choosing to", can boost willpower for change.
  • Writing a book: With his book, "How to Breathe While Suffocating," about to hit the shelves, Bruce shares his philosophy on positivity, recovery, and the transformative power of storytelling.


Bruce's story serves as a testament to the transformative power of sobriety and the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming adversity. So if you are looking for a sign to keep going, breathe, recover, and thrive, listen to this episode of The Underdog.


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The Underdog Podcast host is none other than Pamela Bardhi. She's rocking the Real Estate Realm and has dedicated her life as a Life Coach. She is also in the Forbes Real Estate Council. To know more about Pam, check out the following: